How to add mosaic pins

[KnifeHead]

I'm about to put some nice nickel/silver mosaic pins on a knife I've been working on. To PEEN or NOT TO PEEN, that is the question. I have used them before but on knives that I have kept. I may sell this particular knife I am working on and I don't want it to come apart. My thought is that even a little peening may distort the pins and make them....not so nice anymore. Is epoxy enough to do the job?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Mosaic pins should not be peened. They offer little, except decoration and a tiny bit of holding power. The purpose of pins is to secure the scales. Epoxying pins in does not effectively accomplish this.
Bill

 

[KnifeHead]

I agree totally. I read a tutorial that said to peen the pins "gently" but I was concerned that any amount of hammering on them would distort the innerds and crack the epoxy.

I see numerous knives for sale that only have mosaic pins in the handles. Is it a fair statement that these are considered "art knives" that shouldn't be expected to hold up under the pressure of carrying and normal use? The exception would be a knife with beveled bolsters.